Why does fitbit require location to be turned on?

[CromeX]

Guys I know there has been a thread about this before, but knowone answered the actual questioning that thread.

Why does fitbit require location service to work all of a sudden? Doesn't anyone think this is a breach of privacy?

Why does fitbit need to physically know where we are? There are quitenough a few security issues with this, not to mention the annoyance of switching on the location just for fitbit.

How can we synchronise without locations services?

[SteveH · Accepted solution]

In the following thread one of the moderators explains that this is down to a change that Google made with the introduction of Android 6:

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Android-App/Syncing-on-Android-6-0-Marshmallow-official-release/m-p/...

[MarreFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community @CromeX! Besides @SteveH's article, please see this post containing a breakdown of Android app permissions and the reasons for each.

Have a nice day you both!

[CromeX]

Thanks Guys for your answers, 

I evenutally found googles response. I don't see their reasoning, in fact I see the opposite effect. Thus my question has not changed. Doesn't anyone think this is a breach of privacy?

In addition it goes against the European Privacy Laws;  Excessive information storage. 

Because of this breach in European law, Fitbit as a company is obilidged to challenge Google in this area. As the time of this post Fitbit is the market lead in wearables technology. Thus accountablity for this issue lies with Fitbit. At the very least they/you need to be showing you respect your customers data privacy.

So my question to all of that is? Are you challenging Google on this issue?

[Kkn808]

Yes it is a pain to sync your fitbit, I heard so many horror stories about turning on your location that ppl can actually hack into your phone to see where you are, example if you left your home and gone to the store robbers can tell no one is at home and rob you. They can see your every move.

Now when I need to sync, I turn on location sync then turn off and do a delete history in my location....such a pain

[emseepee]

I hate the location being on. It drains the battery and it is too Big Brother for me. FitBit needs to sort this issue out. Changing the alarm syncs without the location being on, so that's what I will have to do until this issue is sorted out. Come on FitBit, you can do better than this!

[scl205]

Yes this is a breach of privacy.

[USAF-Larry]

I am not sure how it is a breach of privacy, @scl205, when your cell provider already knows to the second exactly where your phone is located regardless of whether or not Location Services is enabled or disabled.  Since Fitbit does not use you location for syncing, they aren't collecting it for anything or reporting it to anyone.  But, as we now know, NSA was monitoring phone locations & usage long before Location Services was put on the phones.....

FWIW, the Bluetooth hands free phone service built into my vehicle also requires to have Location Service enabled - if I didn't enable it, I could not use the vehicles hands free phone capability.  I don't consider that a breach of privacy nearly as much as the fact that anyone nearby with Bluetooth capability could monitor my phone conversation over the Bluetooth adapter.  Same is true of anyone using a Bluetooth hands free head phone system.

[scl205]

My vehicle does not require location services to be on. In fact the only Bluetooth device I have that does require location services to be on is my fit bit. I am aware the cell provider can track a phones wearabout's when it is on. I simply have an issue with yet another way to be tracked for no good reason. There are several companies that have made substantial amounts of money selling data. Think Google Facebook twitter etc. Fit bit does not need to be added to that list.

[Kkn808]

Just noticed only recently the location does not have to be turned on to
sync sometimes. It just syncs normal as before

[Arrendalek]

nope, no change. Still requires location. note 7 😮 and Android m

[Punkin105]

I have a fit one and have to turn on location to sync now.  I am like many and don't like having my location on all the time.  I never had this problem until about a month ago.  Yes , I can turn it on and off to sync, but shouldn't have to.  Everytime I go into the fitbit app to sync I get a mesage about location needs to be on.  I read some people saying you can still sync.  I can't on mine unless I trun it on.

[Kkn808]

Mine was like that before, location had to be turned on but now even
though I have the exclamation mark saying location has to be turned on to
sync, I'm still able to sync. Not sure if it's because I do challenges.

[snacdaws102]

It is definitely a breach of privacy but not on fitbit's side instead it is Google's decision

Apparently it fixes a major security issue

[katband]

I hate this too! It drains my battery and uses up my data plan. Fitbit, you DON'T NEED to know my exact location. I can appreciate Google requiring us being notified of what the request means, but don't make it mandatory. It's an invasion of my privacy and has nothing to do with the function of your device. ggrrhh

[USAF-Larry]

Hate to see you go, @katband, but best of luck with whatever brand of fitness tracker you look at - most of them use Bluetooth to sync the device, and all of those require location services to be enabled.

Location Services uses less than 1% of the battery on my HTC One phone, which always has it enabled. Some of the apps that calls Location Services, such as Maps, Camera, etc., may use the battery, but Locaton Services itself does not. Location Services does not use any of the phones data plan, but the apps that calls it might. BTW, both Google and your service provider already know your location, regardless of whether Location Services is enabled or not - so does NSA...

[Punkin105]

I found out that it is still synching, even though it says needs location.  I agree we shouldn't be told we have to have it on.  Fitbit even if it's due to a google policy shouldn't have to know our location  unless we are using the running/walking in the track my excerise.  Also, for those people who say we use location for for google map, ect. We don't have to have location on at all times to use google map, nor has it ever told us we had too.  I for one just turn location on when using google map.  Besides google shouldn't send us a message saying it has to be on to synch fitbit when in fact thats a lie.  It synchs anyway.  So yes this may be a google issue and it is wrong for them to try to get you to use location at all times.  Yes it matters to us, I for one don't want people to know where I'm at at all times.  I always turn location off unless google maps is needed.  I tell my teenage daughter to do the same thing.

So even though this is google and not fitbit, fitbot should let their custmers know location is not neccessary.

[USAF-Larry]

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@Punkin105 wrote:

Fitbit even if it's due to a google policy shouldn't have to know our location  unless we are using the running/walking in the track my excerise.

---

If you look at the calls to the Location Services, @Punkin105, you'll see that Fitbit does not ask for your location when you sync. So, Fitbit doesn't really care where you are. If you are using the Connected GPS Exercise Mode, the GPS tracks your location so it can measure the distance.

[Arrendalek]

Fit bit isn't very bashful about it are they? Or loyal to the customer
base?

[SteveH]

@Arrendalek as I see it, Fitbit cannot continue to sync over bluetooth unless location services are enabled because of a rule change imposed by Google. 

I don't see what Fitbit need to be bashful about and how they are showing disloyalty to their customers.

Did you mean to say Google rather than Fitbit?